Dominican Republic MPs Francisco Matos and Ramon Fernandez travelled to Abkhazia in December 2010 and met with Abkhaz officials, including Sergey Shamba , Maxim Gvindzhia and Nugzar Ashuba . The Dominican Republic politicians voiced their support for the establishment of friendly ties with Abkhazia, and invited their Abkhazian counterparts to visit their country to establish inter-parliamentary ties. Dominican Republic Deputy Prime Minister Jos\u00e9 Miguel Abreu visited Abkhazia in May 2011 and met with senior Abkhaz government officials. Sergey Bagapsh stated in Moscow that recognition from a Latin American nation could be expected in May. Philip Gordon , the American Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs , later warned the Dominican Republic against recognising the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.